How to Make a Model of a Spider

Making a model spider offers a learning activity for becoming familiar with the parts of the spider. Building the model demonstrates abilities to sculpt and assemble a three-dimensional figure. For older kids and adults, a spider model can become part of an art assemblage, video project or serve as an educational model for classroom activities. With basic craft supplies you can build a spider model or lead a craft project suitable for most age groups.

Other People Are Reading

Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Pull of a piece of clay the size you want for the spider's head. For example, make a ball as big as a marble, or the width of a quarter.

2

Wet your fingers in a cup of water and pull off a piece of clay twice the size of the first ball. Roll the clay into a ball and then squeeze and roll it between the palms of your hands to form an oblong shape for the spider's abdomen.

3

Press the smaller ball against the end of the abdomen and pinch the clay to join the two parts of the spider together. Alternatively, push a toothpick halfway into the end of the abdomen and push the head onto the protruding end of the toothpick to attach it. Toothpicks provide more support for larger spider models.

4

Cut a piece of pipe cleaner for a spider leg. Check the fit by bending the pipe cleaner at the angle you want the leg. Refer to a picture of the kind of spider you're making a model of to create the desired leg shape. Cut seven more pieces of pipe cleaner to make the rest of the spider's legs.

5

Insert the end of each pipe cleaner into the sides of the abdomen, with four legs on each side. Allow the spider model to air dry. Depending on the temperature and humidity, it may take two hours or longer to become fully dry.

6

Draw the spider's eyes on the head with a felt-tip pen. Color in any other details, such as a red hour glass shape for a black widow spider.